Jonathan Tamari

Jonathan Tamari is the Inquirer’s Washington correspondent. He writes about the lawmakers, politics and policy that affect Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Tamari previously covered the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL. Before that he worked in Trenton, reporting on the characters and color of New Jersey state government. He lives in Washington.

U.S. Rep. Jon Runyan, the former Eagles and Michigan offensive lineman, will receive a Big Ten leadership award at the conference's championship game Saturday in Indianapolis.

"I am truly honored to receive this award," Runyan, a New Jersey Republican, said in a news release. The Ford-Kinnick Leadership Award is given each year to a former Big Ten football player that has shown excellence in leadership, according to Runyan's office. It is named after former President Gerald Ford, who was also a Michigan football player, and Nile Kinnick an Iowa Heisman Trophy winner who died while serving in the Navy.

"I want to thank the University of Michigan and the Big Ten Conference for this award named after one of Michigan's greatest alumni, President Gerald Ford," Runyan said. "During my time at Michigan, I learned a great deal about the importance of community service and giving back. These lessons have guided me throughout my tenure in the NFL and ultimately helped me navigate through my first term in Congress."